Book Review: Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray

Title & Author: Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray

Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi

Release Date: April 4th 2017

Series: YES!!!!!!!!!

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Source: ARC via Publisher

Description: Noemi Vidal is a teen soldier from the planet Genesis, once a colony of Earth that’s now at war for its independence. The humans of Genesis have fought Earth’s robotic “mech” armies for decades with no end in sight.

After a surprise attack, Noemi finds herself stranded in space on an abandoned ship where she meets Abel, the most sophisticated mech prototype ever made. One who should be her enemy. But Abel’s programming forces him to obey Noemi as his commander, which means he has to help her save Genesis–even though her plan to win the war will kill him.

Together they embark on a daring voyage through the galaxy. Before long, Noemi begins to realize Abel may be more than a machine, and, for his part, Abel’s devotion to Noemi is no longer just a matter of programming.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review

This is the first book by Claudia Gray I have ever read and I am KICKING myself for waiting this long. This book was amazing. Absolutely stunning. I have never wanted to 5 star a book so hard in my life. This is the best sci-fi book I have ever read. Ever. If you think I am overreacting just know I read this over three weeks ago and am still immensely excited from reading this book. For so long I felt burned by a lot of sci-fi as it was so… hoaky. After the very first chapter of this book I knew I was in love. And all other sci-fi books I thought were good paled in comparison.

I don’t give spoilers (if I do it’s very rarely) but this is one of the few times I can say a bittersweet ending did it justice. Of course at the end of this book I was screaming for more and praying to the book gods for a series so I can have more of all the witty and amazingly complex characters Claudia stuffed this book with but the ending was great either way. I am 100% pro Abel and will never be able to think about Mech’s the same now. I also got confirmation via twitter from Claudia herself that this will be a series! (I am screaming into the void in happiness.) I am also quickly realizing this is less of a review than a rant on how amazing this book is. Sorry not sorry.

OK, real review time. I swear.

First of all Earth is dying. In this book we see the future as bleak and cold and full of war. Genesis a once Earth colony is fighting for their independence from Earth. Earth at this point has been searching the vast galaxies for a planet suitable for inhabiting all 8+ billion people on Earth. While they have found a few planets none are as perfect as Genesis. The hows and whys I will leave blank as you need to read them to really grasp what is going on.

As for characters Noemi is one of the best broken, flawed, under estimated characters I have ever read. She is a true soldier willing to put her planet above all else. Including her life. Abel is the perfect mech, the type A. He has surpassed every mech law put into place and transcended being a mere robot. Together they travel the length of the known universe in search for a way to save Genesis. Along the way they meet amazing people, see breathtaking planets, and witness devastating loss. If that hasn’t sold you yet then I don’t know what will.

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